The five-time ice skating olympic champion Claudia Pechstein and Bob-Dominator Francesco Friedrich carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
A “huge honor” at her eighth Olympic winter games, an “absolute knitter” before the next gold hunt: Claudia Pechstein and Francesco Friedrich carry the German flag at the opening ceremony in Beijing (Friday, 1:00 pm CET). The five-time ice-fast-running olympic champion from Berlin and the BOB dominator from Oberbänburg received most votes in the vote among athletes and fans. The German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) announced on Thursday.
“It is a huge honor for me to lead the German team as a flag carrier in the stadium,” said Pechstein: “I won everything in my career, what to win and now as Olympic record participant bear the flag for team Germany allowed, makes me very proud. ” And Friedrich said, “That’s at least equal to the gold medal we can win here.”
For the second time after the summer games in Tokyo 2021, where beach volleyballer Laura Ludwig and Wasserspringer Patrick Hausding had led the German team to the stadium at the opening ceremony, a woman and a man were selected. The German team wants to set a sign for equal rights.
Previously, ten men had at the previous games in the summer and winter since reunification ten men, but only five women led the German team at the opening ceremony. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had released this opportunity to all teams.
Pechstein, who was here 30 years ago in Albertville, has already gotten its great performance before the start of the competitions. The controversial Berliner is the most successful German winter Olympicine (5x Gold, 2x Silver, 2x Bronze), in China, the old master participates in winter games for the eighth time. It concludes with the sole record holder, the Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai so far. Older was never a participant in winter games.
What a pompous hill! The sports facilities of the winter games
Pechstein: “A huge honor”
And that’s why it’s probably nothing with another medal. “I’m in the first time under the Olympic motto ‘It’s all’ on the road,” said Pechstein, who already stood on Saturday over 3000 m as well as later in the mass start. All the more she is looking forward to Friday: “A huge honor”.
On the other hand, Friedrich is full of victory in Beijing. After his double victory four years ago in Pyeongchang, the 31-year-old record world champion in China wants to adjust the Olympic record of Andre Lange with four gold medals. On the side of Pechstein to run into the bird’s nest, there should be a thrust again.
Articles and videos about the topic
* Olympia is imminent: the questions & answers to the winter games in Beijing
* IOC criticizes Infantinos World Cup plans
* Top sport live on Dazn. Register now! Can be terminated at any time monthly.
“To wear the flag would be an absolute knighthood. That would be really awesome,” he had said in advance to the Munich Mercury and the TZ. For the great appearance, Friedrich also increases logistical hurdles. His neighborhood is in Yanqing, arrival and departure are associated with some effort. The role as a flag carrier is worthy of any additional burden: “To announce the team Germany and march with the flag in the stadium – this is the icing on the cake on every sports career. And a crazy honor.”